For Sharks, eight is more than enough

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, March 25, 1999

TORONTO - The second-lowest scoring team in the NHL showed the most potent offense how it's done as the Sharks outscored the Toronto Maple Leafs, 8-5, Wednesday night.

Vincent Damphousse scored two goals in his first game with San Jose since he was traded from Montreal on Tuesday and the Sharks extended their unbeaten streak to seven games (5-0-2).

"It was really important for me to get a fresh start with the Sharks," said Damphousse, who played on a line with Joe Murphy and Jeff Friesen. "There's only 12 games left in the season. I want to play well right away so I can play a lot. It's nice to play on an offensive line."

San Jose entered the game ahead of just the Tampa Bay Lightning in scoring, averaging just 2.2 goals per game. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, led the NHL with 3.1 goals a night. The Sharks are undefeated in five straight road games and strengthened their grip on the No. 7 playoff spot in the Western Conference, five points ahead of the idle Calgary Flames.

Murray Craven, Friesen, Mike Rathje, Owen Nolan, Alexander Korolyuk and Murphy, into an empty net, also scored for the Sharks, who got more than six goals for the first time this season. The Sharks built a 7-2 lead in the third period before the Maple Leafs scored three goals in less than four minutes late in the game.

Damphousse was acquired Tuesday from the Canadiens in exchange for two drafts picks. His slap shot from just inside the blue line on the power play put the Sharks ahead 2-1 in the second period. His second goal came on a third-period breakaway and gave San Jose a 5-2 cushion. He drilled a slap shot that trickled between the legs of Glenn Healy.

"I want to show I can still play offensively," he said.

"I played with Joe for a full year in Edmonton and he's fast down the right side. And Jeff is one of the best young talents in the league."

Derek King, with a pair of goals, Mats Sundin, Fredrik Modin and Yanic Perreault replied for Toronto, which finished its four-game homestand with a 1-3-0 record.

"This is the first real time when we can say we're not playing well," Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn said. "Our biggest test is to come out of this. We're challenged and we have to find a way. We've been a good hockey club for 70 games, but right now we're not."

Perreault, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline Tuesday, centered the Maple Leafs' fourth line between Sergei Berezin and Garry Valk. He had one good scoring chance in the first period and several chances in the third.

San Jose goalie Steve Shields made his ninth straight start due to Mike Vernon's groin injury. The Sharks are 6-1-2 and Shields has allowed only 20 goals since Vernon was hurt.

NOTES: Defenseman Bryan Marchment is the Sharks' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Tony Granato won the award two years ago . . . Junior stars Brad Stuart and Scott Hannan were honored by the Western Hockey League. Stuart, San Jose's first-round pick last June (third overall), was named the league's top defenseman and made the Eastern Conference's First All-Star team. Hannan, taken in the first round in 1997 (23rd overall) was named to the Western Conference First All-Star team.&lt;